Improved safety device for locks of fire-arms



- E. '1. STARR.

Revolver.

1%.. 45.532. T Patent ed Dec. 20, 1864.

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IL PETER-8. PHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c, v

U ITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. T. STARR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED SAFETY DEVICE FOR LOCKS OF FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letiers Patent No. 45,532, dated December20, 1864.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, E. T. STARR, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented a new and Improved Hammer-Lock for Fire- Arms; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming part of this specification. Said drawing is a side elevation ofthe frame and hammer of a revolving fire-arm, showing the application ofmy improvement.

The object of this invention-is to prevent the hammer ot' the fire-armfrom being accidentally driven or forced against the cartridge or cap,and thus avoid the danger of those premature explosions by which lifeand limb are so often sacrificed.

My improvement may be applied to almost every description of fire-arm orweapon in which the discharge is accomplished by the fall of a hammer.

It will only be necessary to describe that portion of the fire-arm towhich my improvement is to be attached.

A is the usual stock, 13 the barrel, and C the frame in which the lockis contained. All of the above parts are constructed in the usualmanner.

' D is the hammer, made and operating substantially the same as in allfire-arms. cl is the horn or thumb-piece by which the hammer is raised.

My invention consists in the combination,

with the hammer, of a lever-lock, E, pivotedin any suitable manner tothe side or other part of the hammer, and so formed or arranged thatsaid lock is actuated by the pressure of the thumb in the usual actot'raising the harm nier or the letting down thereof.

6 is the pivot by which the lock E is attached to the hammer.

The lock E consists of a thin plate having the general form of thehammer-horn d, at the side of which it is placed. The lower end of thelock E is beveled or pointed, and this point fitsinto a tooth ordepression, f, which is cut in the back of the frame 0, as shown.

Behind the lock E, and attached to the hammer, is a spring, F, whichbears against the lock E and tends to throw the point of the latterdown, so that it cannot engage the tooth f, except when pressure isspecially applied to the upper end of the lock E for that'purpose.

When the hammer is resting upon the nipple or cartridge the hammeroccupies the position shown in black in the drawing, the upper end ofthe lock E being slightly in advance of the horn d of the hammer. If itis now desired to use the lock E to prevent the contact of the hammerwith the cartridge or nipple, pressure is applied to the upper end ofthe lock E, and itis pressed slightly back, and the hammer D is alsoraised a little, which movement elevates the lower end or part of thelock E, which point is then allowed to fall into or engage the tooth f,and thus to lock or hold up the hammer D, so that it cannot against thenipple or cartridge, thus producing the explosion. The lock E is ofcourse to be so applied as to prevent the hammer from striking theplunger or whatever other device may be employed to convey the blow ofthe hammer to the cap or cartridge to effect the firing thereof.

I do not confine myself to the particular arrangement or construction ofthe lock E here shown, as it may be applied by any skillful mechanic invarious ways; nor do I claim broadly the application of locks tofire-arms to prevent the hammer from resting uponcartridge or cap but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The combination, with the hammer D, of a lever-lock,E, when the said lock is so made and arranged as to be operated by theact of raising or letting down the hammer, substantially as herein shownand described.

E T. STARR.

Witnesses:

J. P. HALL, WM. T. MONAMARA.

